Sep 6, 2012

sorry for not posting as regularly but last week i basically lost all my photos. an update of iPhoto (which i use to organize all my pics) for the new Mac OS X Mountain Lion has absolutely messed up my complete photo library, containing almost 14 000 images. as my last back up was wayyyy too long ago - yeah, that Time Machine program is f*cked up, too - i don't really get my work back if i restore the system. at least i know that my precious private photographs are not gone, which is always my biggest fear when shit like this happens. the pics are somewhere all over the place on the hard drive, just not where they're supposed to be and so complicated to access that i am just too exasperated to deal with it. i'm actually quite pissed with my computer and keep neglecting it. i had prepared material for over 50 blog posts, but am just too annoyed to get it back together at the moment. i hope i can shoot new stuff this weekend, i'm just sick of thinking about all the lost work. ARGH!!!

Aug 30, 2012

today just a quick eyeliner-review. i bought this Avon Super Shock Gel Eyeliner some months ago after i saw a review on Cream's Beauty Blog. not only is Golden Fawn a light metallic taupe, it also seemed to be a dupe to Chanel Stylo Yeux in Rose Platine - a beloved, but limited edition eyeliner that i only use sparingly to not run out of it.
this has a creamy and soft texture and glides smoothly on the skin for a highly pigmented line without any dragging. just as Chanel Rose Platine, i like to wear this on the lower lashline. the silver taupe subtly defines the eye but also opens it because of its reflective quality. it contains tiny crystal flecks, so i don't use it on the waterline. staying power is medium, it does set but i still notice some smudging at the outer corner after 2 or 3 hours (doesn't seem to be sebum-proof). since the colour is so light, i don't mind it, though.
i bought mine on ebay for about 6-7€.

they are very close, but Chanel is a bit more golden compared to Avon. also, Rose Platine is made of tiniest glitter particles which gives it a lot of complexity while Golden Fawn is a smooth metallic that has less dimension to it.

Aug 29, 2012

because i was too shy to wear it, right after buying the Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain #1 Violet Edition i went to the drugstore and got this Maybelline Superstay 10h Tint Gloss in #540 Endless Ruby as a transition colour to get used to the bold lip.
i also thought the two products were similar, so i wanted to try this cheaper alternative and compare them.

the Maybelline gloss comes in a bulgy tube, the packaging is really tasteless. the wide oval applicator is flexible and applies relatively precise, i don't find it as precise as the YSL Glossy Stain, but i also didn't need a lip brush to apply. with 10.5ml i think there is quite a lot content, i don't remember the exact price but it must have been something around 7-8€.

1 layer & 2 layers

Endless Ruby is a rich ruby red. the texture is gel-like, thinner and more watery than i expected, this is more a very pigmented tint and less of a gloss.
it has a strong artificial fruity scent of grapes, think grape candy. it applies evenly, a second layer can be added after the first is dried to intensify the colour and add a tiny bit of shine. the overall finish is not too shiny, maybe only like a creamy lipstick. the lip colour dries slightly sticky but not uncomfortably. my lips don't chap wearing this although there is no balmy phase to it like the Glossy Stains. wearing time is remarkable for a lightweight lip product like this, i had to retouch after about 4 hours to keep the intense colour. it fades down gradually when eating&drinking are involved because there's no glossy layer like in the YSL Vernis à Lèvres to keep the colour from dissolving when it comes in contact with liquids. that's my main complaint with how this stain wears - the colour fades mostly in the center of the lips and since this shade is so dark, i end up with a funny contrasting lip and its upgrade version: the "dark-lipliner-only" pout - if i focus on my beverages and cocktails too much and on my outer appearance too little ;)
all in all a really beautiful bold lip stain from the drugstore. i swatched them all and this might be the best in intensity and colour. it's not so much a dupe for the unique texture of YSL Glossy Stains (very excited to try the new L'Oreal Shine Caresse - these should be the perfect dupes), but one of the acceptable alternatives.now that i'm uploading i notice that i don't have close up lip swatches. if you want to see them, please let me know so i will do some ;)

Aug 28, 2012

i want to show you Le Métier de Beauté Crème Fresh Tint in Tenné, one of 5 available shades of these cheek&lips creams. for comparisons and more reviews of them and other Le Métier blushes, check my overview post. these cream blushes come in rubberized plastic screw pots which contain 5g each. they retail for 28$/£24 and are available at usual suspects like Nordstrom, Saks 5th Ave., Bergdorf Goodman, etc. in the US and on zuneta.com for Europe.

the shade Tenné is a caramel brown with strong rose tinge. it looks so boring in the pot but is such a beautiful, natural blush colour on the cheeks so please don't ditch it by the first impression. in this case, i'm quite happy that my skintone plays up the pink in each blush colour, making this a soft nude blush for me. it doesn't contain any shimmer but the creaminess creates a slight dewy sheen. the texture is quite soft compared to other cream blushes (not as soft as Illamasqua, though), but a bit more compact and drier than the other Crème Fresh Tints by LMdB. i apply my creamy cheek products with the Hakuhodo G5552 duo fibre brush, it applies and blends out effortlessly with the fingers, too. although these are so creamy, i don't have any problems with the staying power. on my oily skin, the colour doesn't melt off or become blotchy and starts to fade gradually after about 6-7 hours. this shade applies evenly and looks nice on my lips. it feels a bit dry but is not drying. Tenné looks lighter on my pigmented lips and appears as a beige nude on me, slightly too pale but ok to go with smokey eyes. i don't have similar shades in my cream blush arsenal, so i don't have comparisons for you. if you wish to see comparison swatches with particular powder blushes, please let me know.

Aug 27, 2012

yet another belated review of my recent Giorgio Armani order, at least the one i'm talking about today is still available on douglas.de - if you order, don't forget to check frau-shopping.de for all the goodie-codes! shade #27 is one of six Eyes To Kill Silk Eye Shadows released with the Acqua Collection for summer 2012, i have already shown you shade #28 here.

the loosely pressed hybrid cream/powder eyeshadow crumbles house in a glass pot with a plastic stopper inside. i store my pots upside down to see the colour that's inside. it contains 4g of product and costs 32$/30€.

GA ETK #27 swatched heavily & sheered out

#27 is a mix of steel grey and reddish pink crumbles, as a result you'll get a complex smokey mauve with crystal flecks and tons of pink shimmer. this colour swatches with a strong pink tinge but turns to a mauvey taupe on my lids (it was a difficult task for my camera to capture the effect, it flashes between a taupe and dusty mauve in my swatches). i really like how it looks with my eye colour, the purple tinge only slightly contrasts the brown in my eyes but enough to bring it out. it's smooth and intensely pigmented with a highly metallic finish. i get the best pigmentation by using a firm, flat brush. fluffier or softer brushes don't always apply evenly and can cause fall outs. it blends out easily to a sheer glimmering veil (really beautiful effect). this is made for lazy people like me, it's creates a good portion of drama without the need of additional eyeshadows. the staying power didn't disappoint me - just like the other ETK Silk Eye Shadows i've used, it wears the whole day brilliantly without creasing or fading. luckily it's not like any of my existing grurples, it's shinier and more pink than any grey/purple cream- or powder eyeshadow i compared it to.
another winner from this line, i really love these hybrid shadows and can totally recommend them. used sparingly (for example as accent colour only on the center of the lids), they even look great on those who swear by matte shadows.